Trainer Mike Moroney has taken an untraditional path towards the rich Blue Diamond Stakes for his filly Serenade who will run in the $250,000 Inglis Classic (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Trainer Mike Moroney will saddle up Serenade in the Inglis Classic at Rosehill. Photo by Taron Clarke.
Traditionally the winner of the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 28 comes through the Blue Diamond previews and the Blue Diamond Preludes in the lead up to Melbourne’s riches two year old race.
But because Serenade was a $26,000 yearling purchase from the 2014 Classic Yearling Sale Summer Book at Newmarket in Sydney, the logical path would be to chase the Inglis prizemoney on her way to the Blue Diamond Stakes.
Moroney followed the same program with 2001 Blue Diamond Stakes winner True Jewels who ran second at her previous start in the Inglis Classic which was run at Randwick that year.
“We ran True Jewels in this race and then brought her back for the Blue Diamond,” Moroney AAP.
Moroney is hoping for as much improvement again on Saturday for the Star Witness filly who went from being beaten twelve and half lengths in a 1000m Gosford two year old maiden to winning a 1200m Canterbury two year old maiden by five lengths when she was wearing the blinkers for the first time.
“She went to the line without being pushed along too hard, so hopefully she’s got a bit of improvement in her,” Moroney said.
Glyn Schofield will be the new rider for Serenade, replacing the suspended Brenton Avdulla who was on the filly in her easy Canterbury romp.
The blinkers really switched on Serenade who led all the way at Canterbury and the filly should have no trouble racing in or near the lead after drawing the inside gate in the eleven horse field.
Number one saddlecloth holder Odyssey Moon is also chasing more Inglis Sales related prizemoney after winning the $250,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m) at Randwick on December 13.
The Rodney Northam trained Snitzel colt has only been to the races once and has rewarded his connections with a winning cheque of $168,750.
Tye Angland will again be aboard Odyssey Moon who has drawn midfield at six.
Queensland filly Lady Sniper and the Wyong trained Lady Jivago are the only other two winners in the Inglis Classic.
The Tony Crane trained Lady Snip won a 1100m Beaudesert two year old maiden on January 25 while Lady Jivago, trained by Jeff Englebrecht, was successful in a 1100m two year old maiden on her home track.
